Straightening machine for round workpieces

ABSTRACT

A STRAIGHTENING MACHINE FOR ROUND TUBULAR OR BAR STOCK WHEREIN THE STRAIGHTENING ROLLS ARE ADJUSTABLE RADIALLY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM AS WELL AS ANGULARLY WITH REFERENCE TO THE PATH OF TRAVELLING STOCK. THE ROLLS ARE DISPOSED IN GROUPS AND EACH GROUP OF ROLLS CAN BE MOVED RADIALLY OR ANGULARLY BY ONE OF SEVERAL INPUT SHAFTS WHICH EFFECT ADJUSTMENTS OF ROLL HOLDERS BY WAY OF PLANETARY TRANSMISSIONS.

March 16, 1971 STRAIGHTENING MACHINE FOR ROUND WORKPIECES Filed Nov.

FIG. I

H. HARTKOPF 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HE/NZ HART/Z08 ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. HARTKOPF STRAIGHTENING MACHINE FOR ROUND WORKPIECES INVENTOR f/KM z /1'A@/ k0/F QZKMZK/ ATTORNEY March 16, 1971 Filed Nov.

March 16, 1971 H. HARTKOPF STRAIGHTENING MACHINE FOR ROUND WORKPIECES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 14, 1968 INVENTOR HE/NZ HARTKUPF March 16, 1971 H. HARTKOPF 3,570,290

STRAIGHTENING MACHINE FOR ROUND WORKPIECES Filed Nov. 14 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR HEM/z H/LQTKUW ATTORNEY United States Patent STRAIGHTENING MACHINE FOR ROUND WORKPIECES Heinz Hartkopf, Solingen, Germany, assignor to 'Ih. Kieserling & Albrecht, Solingen, Germany Filed Nov. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 775,687 Claims priority, applicatio6n Germany, Nov. 24, 1967,

Int. Cl. Bzm 3/04 US. CI. 72-78 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to straightening machines for round tubular or bar stock, and more particularly to improvements in mechanisms for adjusting the position of straightening rolls with reference to the stock. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in mechanisms which can adjust the straightening rolls in several directions while the rolls orbit about the path for travelling stock.

It is already known to provide a straightening machine with a mechanism which can change the inclination of straightening rolls with reference to the axis of travelling stock. The shafts of straightening rolls carry worm wheels which mesh with worms mounted in a revolving carriage for the rolls. A transmission is provided to drive the worms in response to angular displacement of a gear which is mounted on the carriage. A change in angular position of the gear with reference to the carriage effects simultaneous adjustment of all straightening rolls.

It is also known to provide a straightening machine with a mechanism which can move the straightening rolls radially toward and away from the path of round tubular or bar stock. The rolls are provided with threaded pins for worm wheels each of which is rotatable in but cannot move axially of the revolving carriage. The worm wheels are driven by a transmission which includes ring gears mounted on and rotatable with reference to the carriage by driver means installed on a stationary part of the machine. The ring gears can effect radial movements of two or more straightening rolls at a time.

It was found that simultaneous adjustment of all straightening rolls, either with a view to change their inclination or their distance from the axis of treated stock, does not suffice to insure accurate treatment of round workpieces. Thus, it is desirable to provide a straightening machine with a mechanism which renders it possible to change the inclination of one or more straightening rolls independently of the remaining roll or rolls, and which further enables an operator to change the radial position of one or more rolls independently of the remaining roll or rolls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a straightening machine wherein the rolls can be adjusted by a relatively simple mechanism which is more versatile than presently known adjusting mechanisms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a straightening machine wherein the manipulation of a sin- 357,29 Patented Mar. 16, 1971 Ice gle part can bring about a change in radial position and/ or orientation (inclination) of one or more straightening rolls.

A further object of the invention is to provide a straightening machine wherein one or more rolls can be moved radially or angularly with reference to the path of treated material while the machine is idle or in actual use.

The improved straightening machine is utilized for treatment of round tubular or bar stock and comprises guide means defining an elongated path wherein the stock is transported lengthwise, a carriage arranged to rotate about the path for travelling stock, a plurality of stockengaging straightening rolls mounted in the carriage for movement radially of as well as at an angle to the path for travelling stock, and adjusting means for moving the rolls with reference to the travelling stock. The adjusting means comprises a plurality of input means (for example, worm shafts which can be rotated in clockwise and counterclockwise directions) each arranged to effect angular or radial movements of groups of straightening rolls with reference to the stock.

The adjusting means preferably further comprises planetary transmissions which are interposed between the input means and the holders of straightening rolls.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved straightening machine itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a first portion of a straightening machine with six straightening rolls;

FIG. 2 is a similar fragmentary axial sectional view of a second portion of the straightening machine;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the revolving carriage in the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2, substantially as seen in the direction of arrows from the line AB of FIG. 5;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line CD of FIG. 5;

FIG 5 is an enlarged end elevational view of the carriage as seen in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line EF of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line F-G of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line EH of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a por tion of a bar or tube straightening machine which comprises six straightening rolls 1 to 6 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4). These rolls are freely rotatable on bearings 7 surrounding shafts 9 which are mounted in a revolving carriage or rotor 8. The carriage 8 is provided With a pulley 10 which is driven by a second pulley 12 by way of endless V-belts 11. The pulley 12 is mounted on the output shaft of a variable-speed hydraulic motor 13. The speed of the motor 13 is preferably variable infinitely so that the rotational speed of the carriage 8 can be selected at will.

The carriage -8 rotates in antifriction bearings 14, 15 which are installed in upright frame members 16 and 17. This carriage is hollow and accommodates two coaxial tubular guides 20, 20a defining an elongated path for round tubular or bar stock, not shown. The guides 20,

3 20a are mounted in antifriction bearings 18, 19 provided in the carriage 8', and are held against rotation by screws 21 or analogous fasteners. Thus, the carriage 8 can rotate in external bearings 14, 15 and around internal bearings 18, 19. The means for moving the stock axially into the guide 20 and out of the guide 20a preferably comprises conventional advancing rolls, not shown. Such stock is straightened in response to engagement with the rolls The machine further comprises two planetary transmissions P and P which are respectively shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. These transmissions are of identical or analogous design; therefore, the drawing (FIG. 1) merely shows all details of the transmission P whereas FIG. 2 merely shows a few component parts of the transmission P The transmissions P and P are of the type known as correctedteeth planetaries.

Referring to the transmissions P of FIG. 1, the guide 20 is surrounded by an inner sleeve 22 which is rotatable thereon and whose inner (right-hand) axial end is provided with a gear 23. The outer (left-hand) axial end of the sleeve 22 has an annulus of teeth 24 constituting a sun wheel which meshes with the teeth 25 of three planet pinions 26. The teeth 25 of the pinions 26 further mesh with the teeth of a ring gear 27 which is rotatable on the sleeve 22 and meshes with the teeth 28 of three intermediate gears 29. The teeth 28 are in mesh with an annulus of teeth 30a of an outer sleeve 30 which is rotatable on the inner sleeve 22 and is further provided with a second annulus of teeth 30b which mesh with an internal gear of the carriage 8. The teeth 28 of the interemediate gears 29 further mate with an annulus of teeth 32 provided on a second ring gear 33 which is rotatable on the outer sleeve 30. The teeth 32 also mesh with the teeth 34 of three planet pinions 35, and the teeth 34 mesh with an annulus of teeth 36 provided on a third sleeve 37. The sleeve 37 has a second annulus of teeth 3711 which mesh with a second internal gear of the carriage 8.

The parts 22a, 23a, 31, 31b, 38, 38a of the transmission P respectively correspond to the aforedescribed parts 22, 23, 30, 30b, 37, 37a of the transmission P The teeth 37a, 38a of the sleeves 37, 38 respectively mesh with pinions 39, 39a and 40, 40a which are mounted for axial movement with but can rotate on shafts 41, 44 and 42, 43 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The gears 23, 23a of inner sleeves 22, 22a respectively mate with pinions 45, 46 and 47, 48 which rotate with but can move axially of the shafts 42, 43 and 41, 44 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

The holders of straightening rolls 1-6 have pins or studs 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, a, 6a which are provided with fixedly mounted worm wheel segments 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b meshing with worms 41a, 44a, 42a, 43a, 41b and 44b. The worms 41a-44b are machined into the respective shafts 41-44. The holders of straightening rolls 1 to 6 are further provided with threaded shifting pins 1c, 20, 3c, 40, 5c, 60 which mesh with worm wheels 1d, 2d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d. These worm wheels are rotatable in but cannot move axially with reference to the carriage 8. The worm Wheels 1d-6d respectively mesh with worms 43c, 42c, 44c, 41c, 43d and 42d which are machined into the respective shafts 4144. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, axial movements of shafts 41-44 will bring about adjustment in the positions of groups of straightening rolls at an angle to the axial direction of advancing stock. The shafts 41 and 44 effect adjustments of rolls 1, 2, 5, 6 and the shafts 42, 43 effect adjustments of the remaining rolls 3, 4. Groups of rolls 1-6 are adjustable radially of the travelling stock in response to angular displacement of shafts 41-44; the shafts 42, 43 and 41, 44 respectively effect radial adjustments of rolls 1, 2, 5, 6 and 3, 4.

The pinions 39, 39a, 40, 41a respectively mesh with internal threads 8A, 8B, 8C, SD of the carrier 8 so that the shafts 41, 44 and 42, 43 move axially in response to angular displacement of pinions 39, 39a and 40, 40a by the teeth 37a and 38a. The pinions 45, 46, 47, 48 do not share such axial movements of shafts 41-44 because all such portions of shafts 41-44 which extend through the pinions 4548 are splined and can slide in the respective pinions. However, angular displacement of pinions 45-48 invariably effects angular displacement of shafts 41-44 so that these shafts rotate in response to rotation of pinions 45-48 and move axially in response to rotation of pinions 39, 39a, 40, 40a.

The operation:

The carriage 8 drives the intermediate gears 29 by way of teeth 30b on the outer sleeve 30 and teeth 28 which are driven by teeth 30a. Three gears 29 are spaced equi-distantly around the axis of the guide 20 and are mounted in a housing 49 of the transmission P The gears 29 rotate planet pinions 26 and 35 by way of ring gears 27 and 33. The carriers 50, 51 of the planet pinions 26, 35 are rotatable in bearings 52, 53. The carriers 50, 51 have worm Wheels 50a, 51a which mesh with worms 54 fixed to input shafts here shown as worm shafts 55. By rotating the input shafts 55 in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction, the operator can move the carriers 50, 51 and hence the sets of planet pinions 26, 35 about the axis of the carriage 8. The ratio of gears in the transmissions P and P is selected in such a way that, when the input shafts 55 are at a standstill, the rpm. of the carriage 8 equals the rpm. of the gear 23, teeth 37a, gear 23a and teeth 38a. Therefore, the pinions 45, 46 and 39, 39a (which respectively mesh with the gear 23 and teeth 37a of sleeve 37) remain in their angular positions. If the input shafts 55 are rotated in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction, the gear 23 and teeth 37a turn with reference to the carriage 8 (because the transmission P is of the corrected-teeth type) to bring about angular or axial displacement of shafts 41-44 and to thereby effect adjustment of holders for the straightening rolls 16, either at an angle to or at right angles to the axis of the guide 20. The left-hand input shaft 55 of FIG. 1 is manipulated to rotate the shafts 42, 43 and the right-hand shaft 55 of FIG. 2 is manipulated to effect axial movements of shafts 41 and 44. The right hand shaft 55 of FIG. 2 is manipulated to effect axial movements of shafts 42, 43 and the right-hand shaft 55 of FIG. 2 can cause angular movements of shafts 41, 44.

The step-down ratio of the transmissions P and P is such that the inclination of roll holders with reference to the direction of travel of stock can be changed by an angle which is a small fraction of a degree (preferably one minute). The accuracy of radial adjustment is within of a millimeter. In this way, the position of straightening rolls can be selected with a surprisingly high degree of accuracy to account for the diameter of tubular or bar stock.

The holder of the straightening roll -1 includes the stud 1a and segment 1b. The holders of rolls 2-6 include parts which correspond to the stud 1a and segment 1b.

The apparatus of my invention could comprise only four straightening rolls or eight or more straightening rolls.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. In a straightening machine for round tubular or bar stock, a combination comprising guide means defining an elongated path wherein the stock is moved lengthwise; a carriage arranged to rotate about said path; a plurality of stock-engaging straightening rolls mounted in said carriage for movement radially of as well as at an angle to said path; and adjusting means for moving said rolls with reference to said carriage, said adjusting means comprising a plurality of input means each arranged to effect angular or radial movements of groups of straightening rolls with reference to said carriage, and planetary transmission means arranged to bring about movements of said rolls in response to manipulation of said input means.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said input means is rotatable in first and second directions to effect radial or angular movements of the corresponding groups of rolls in desired directions.

3. In a straightening machine for round tubular or bar stock, a combination comprising guide means defining an elongated path wherein the stock is moved lengthwise; a carriage arranged to rotate about said path; a plurality of stock-engaging straightening rolls mounted in said carriage for movement radially of as well as at an angle to said path; and adjusting means for moving said rolls with reference to said carriage, said adjusting means comprising a plurality of input means each arranged to effect angular or radial movements of groups of straightening rolls with reference to said carriage, a plurality of shafts rotatably and axially movably mounted in and extending in parallelism with the axis of said carriage, each of said input means being rotatable in first and second directions to effect angular or axial movement of at least one of said shafts, and worm drives provided between said shafts and the corresponding groups of rolls to effect angular and radial movements of said rolls in response to angular or axial displacement of said shafts.

4. A combination as defined is claim 3, wherein each of said worm drives comprises a 'worm on the respective shaft and a worm wheel on the corresponding roll.

5. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said worm drives comprises two worm wheels on each of said rolls and a pair of worms each meshing with one of said worm wheels and each provided on a different one of said shafts so that axial movement of the shaft carrying one of said worms effects one movement and angular movement of the shaft carrying the other worm, effects the other movement of the corresponding roll.

6. In a straightening machine for round tubular or bar stock, a combination comprising guide means defining an elongated path wherein the stock is moved lengthwise; a carriage arranged to rotate about said path a plurality of stock-engaging straightening rolls mounted in said carriage for movement radially of as well as at an angle to said path; and adjusting means for moving said rolls with reference to said carriage, said adjusting means comprising a plurality of input means each arranged to effect angular or radial movement of groups of straightening rolls with reference to said carriage and a plurality of transmissions each including a sleeve meshing and coaxial with said carriage and each having a sun wheel, planet pinions meshing with said sun wheel, a rotary carrier for said pinions, and intermediate gears driven by said pinions and meshing with a second sleeve rotating with said carriage, said input means being arranged to rotate said carriers with reference to said sun 'wheel and said second sleeves being fixed for rotation with said carriage.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said transmissions are corrected-teeth planetaries.

8. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said input means comprise worm shafts. 5

9. A combination as defined in claim '1, wherein the number of said straightening rolls is a whole multiple of two.

10. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said rolls comprises a stock-engaging portion and a holder for such portions and wherein said adjusting means is arranged to move said stock-engaging portions by way of the respective holders.

11. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said groups include a first and a second group of straightening rolls and wherein the number of rolls in said first group exceeds the number of rolls in said second group.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 613,754 11/1898 Brightman 72-78 3,100,519 8/1963 Johnston 72-78 3,187,536 6/1965 Zolton 72-99 MILTON S. MEHR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 72--99 

